Craig Melrose ist Global Managing Partner – Advanced Technologies bei HTEC. Foto: HTEC)
Artificial intelligence is developing at an impressive pace – it now reliably answers questions on hotlines, can distinguish between well over 100 types of tumors, and autonomously controls entire production lines. This is thanks to IT systems with ever-increasing computing power, better AI models, and smarter use of available data. According to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, the performance of AI systems will double every six months in the future. This would even surpass the well-known Moore’s Law from the 1960s, according to which the performance of computer chips doubles approximately every 18 months. The question is: Why are we artificially slowing this pace of innovation through strict and fragmented regulation?
Especially in the automotive industry, which is already facing enormous challenges due to the electrification of drive systems, restrictive and vaguely defined specifications in the field of AI can represent a massive brake on innovation. For example, if the EU AI Act classifies AI systems in development or production as “high-risk” because they are connected to other AI systems that actively intervene in the driving process. A better balance between regulation and innovation would be beneficial here – otherwise, the German automotive industry will continue to struggle in international competition.
In addition, AI regulation varies greatly around the world: While the EU has enacted strict regulations, other countries and economic regions intervene little or not at all. To meet the various requirements, manufacturers essentially have to develop multiple AI systems in parallel, which increases costs and slows development overall.
Of course, rules and limits for AI are right and important – the technology is simply too powerful to remain completely unregulated. However, a globally uniform set of rules developed by an international organization – as proposed by China at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) – would have significantly more appeal than the current state-by-state approach to AI. This is especially important if these regulations focus on ethical standards and transparency, as there are already ample regulations in areas such as data protection and product safety that protect citizens’ rights and ensure responsible AI development. These regulations ensure, for example, that intelligent systems in vehicle interiors that collect driver health data may only be activated with the driver’s consent. Or that manufacturers of autonomous driving functions must develop a comprehensive functional safety concept to prevent accidents if, for example, a sensor fails.
A globally uniform AI regulation that doesn’t over-tighten the belt would give the industry considerable freedom to quickly advance AI innovations. Should there be questionable and unforeseen developments, legislators could always intervene and impose further regulations. This should be easier for them than anticipating AI advances and forcing them into complex regulations in advance. And it would certainly be better than stifling innovations in the automotive industry and other sectors at an early stage.
A guest commentary by Craig Melrose, Global Managing Partner – Advanced Technologies at HTEC
You are currently viewing a placeholder content from Google Maps. To access the actual content, click the button below. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More InformationYou need to load content from reCAPTCHA to submit the form. Please note that doing so will share data with third-party providers.
More Information
